FAQ about our service

- Who are we ?
- Our philosophy : "Service Compris"
- How to book your reservation? - Is our service really free?
- Why to book with us?
- Is it possible to check hotel availability before making a reservation? / Checking availability.
- Your service is free so what do you need credit card information for?
- When exactly do I pay the hotel?
- How can I modify my reservation ?
- How can I cancel, and what is the cancellation policy ?
- So what if I do not show up ?
- I want to go to hotel XYZ, which does not show on the web site. Can you book it for me ?
- Is the credit card information secure with France Hotel Online?
- Our privacy policy
- Security of reservation and credit card information
- I've just filled out a reservation form. How long does it take to get a confirmation for my reservation?
- What if the hotel I picked is not available?
- I need some more information, I have questions to ask; what can I do ?

FAQ about hotels

- Last minute and peak period reservation
- What time can I check-in, check-out? And what do I need to check-in?
- Room types: what are single, double, twin, triple and quadruple rooms?
- Do I get a private bathroom and toilet?
- Hotel prices: what should I expect?
- Are the prices per person or for the room? What's included in the prices quoted?
- Hotel category: how are the hotels rated?
- Minimum sizes for rooms
- We are a family traveling with kids and pets. Will it be difficult to accommodate them?
- How far ahead should I book my reservation?
- What about hotel restaurants?
- What about parking accommodations?
- Are non-smoking rooms available?
- Are hotels equipped with air-conditioning?
- What about gay-friendly hotels?
- When are the busy periods

- Who are we ?

We are a French startup, providing online services for tourists or businessmen including : hotel reservations, advice for travelers to Paris and France, airport shuttle, cars with drivers and more... We want to fully satisfy you, by providing human, customized, tailor made services. True, our reservation system is both automatic and human. Automatic to some extend, because certain informations (such as rates, availability...) can easily be processed by the computer. Basically, we rely on techniques and machines each time figures and calculations are involved. But the system is human insofar as figures never fully meet one's requirements. This is why we, not the machine, personally answer you, to provide you with targetted advice, hints and information.

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This is what we call "le service compris" and it means that :

- we pledge to answer your messages within 18 hours by e-mail.

- we assist you in organizing your trip to France

- In case of urgent question, you can mail us or call us on the phone at the following number : (33) 1.45.27.21.21 - Monday to Friday - from 9 am to 7 pm, Paris time. All this takes time and dedication.
We trust that you will use this special service properly. Do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of some help!

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- How to book your reservation?

If it is your first visit to France Hotel Online, you will need to register before reserving.
You can register either on France Hotel Online homepage or after clicking on "reserve" link on the page presenting your hotel.
On the homepage, choose a hotel using our search links : Hotel search, Reserve in France, Reserve in Paris or Promotions.
Before reserving, we recommend, especially for those reserving in Paris, to choose 6 hotels to maximize chances of getting a room. Your hotel preferences can be ranked on a sole reservation form.
If you are already a member, please login using your username and password.
On the reservation form select your first choice of hotel, then fill in your 5 remaining choices.
Do not forget to fill in your credit card number and expiration date on our secure server. You can cancel your reservation for free anyway ! You will be kept informed by e-mail within 24 hours of your reservation processing. If the hotels you have chosen are already fully booked, then we will provide you by e-mail an alternative matching your needs.

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- Is our service really free?

Yes, our service is really free. What you pay to the hotel when booking through our service is exactly the same as what you would pay if you booked directly.

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- Why to book with us?

* We offer a real customized, tailor-made service.
* We all are bilingual, no more trouble with language barriers.
* We know all our hotels by heart : we can give you any needed information on them.
* We make adequate alternative proposals if the hotel of your choice was fully booked.
* We answer your questions concerning the city and/or region you will go to.
* We help you in preparing your trip : when booking through our web sites, you get in touch with a French native, who is your personal contact. He/she will make suggestions to you, so as to make you feel French in France.
* On your behalf, we can make restaurant, airport shuttle, guided tours or car with chauffeur reservations for free.

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- Is it possible to check hotel availability before making a reservation?

We always do so, and then e-mail you the answer. Still, our web site is dedicated to hotel booking. When asking us to check the availability of a hotel, you show that you are willing to book. This is why we always kindly ask you to enter your credit card number and expiration date in the appropriate field.

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- Your service is free so what do you need credit card information for?

The hotel managers demand valid credit card number and expiration date to guarantee a reservation. Once this information is transmitted, the required room is held available only for you, and nobody else. It is therefore a guarantee for the hotel that you will honor your reservation and that the hotel will keep the room for you.

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- When exactly do I pay the hotel?

Your credit card is never charged, neither by France Hotel Online nor by the hotel, except in case of no show. You pay the hotel when checking out.
A No-show is billed one night stay.

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- How can I modify my reservation ?

- Go back to france-hotel-online.com home page.
- Log into your account, identify yourself using your username and password,
- Cancel your original reservation,
- Choose again your hotel and make a new reservation.

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- How can I cancel, and what is the cancellation policy ?

Cancellations must be made 72 hours prior your arrival date. Cancellations are made directly on France Hotel Online by logging into your account using your username and password, checking the cancel check box on your reservation and pressing on "submit bouton" at the end of the reservation form.

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- So what if I do not show up ?

If you have confirmed your reservation and if you have not cancelled it, and if you don't show up to the hotel, 1 night will be charged on your account by the hotel manager.

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- I want to go to hotel XYZ, which does not show on the web site. Can you book it for me ?

If Hotel XYZ agrees to make the reservation through us, we will make it. It is especially the case for 4 star hotels.

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- Is the credit card information secure with France Hotel Online?

Whenever you use your credit card to reserve or purchase travel services on France Hotel Online, you're protected in two ways:

1.After choosing your hotel, you can sign in securely to France Hotel Online and have all your transactions protected by powerful Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption technology. SSL encrypts your credit card number, name, address, and fax number before they travel over the Internet.

2.From the minute you make a reservation or purchase on France Hotel Online, the credit card you used for the reservation will be protected from fraud.

Much has been written about the perils of sending your credit card information over the Internet. As our business depends on maintaining good relationships with both our customers and the credit card companies we are particularly concerned with this issue. Ultimately, we have as much to lose to credit card fraud as you do. Because we are an Internet-based booking service, credit card transactions are an enormous part of our business. Any breakdown in security means lost revenue and lost customers. You can be assured that we are highly motivated to ensure that any online transaction with France Hotel Online is as secure as possible. Electronic encryption codes are generally quite difficult to break. Read on to learn why the encryption is important. Sending your credit card over the net is rather like giving it to a mail order company over the phone. The people in your house, at the phone company, and at the mail order company could theoretically listen to it -- if they had the right equipment and were in the right place. On the Internet, theoretically, a person on your local-area network (ie. at your home, business, or school), a person at your Internet Service Provider (ISP), the destination ISP, or any ISP in between, or a person at the desintation company could listen in to try and get your credit card. However, this person would have to
1. have "super-user" access (access which is usually only granted to those who are directly responsible for the maintenance of the machine) and
2. spend time and know how to break the encryption protecting your information.


The most vulnerable points to interception are the local networks at each end of a connection. Unlike the point to point nature of the backbone network most local nets are broadcast, that is all machines on the local net could, if so programmed, hear packets to all local machines. This makes the local endpoints the most vulnerable to data interception. In particular, if a thief can gain control of one machine on the local net all traffic to all local machines may be read. The risk therefore is highly correlated with the level of security on your local area network. Remember, though, that even if such a machine were compromised, the thief would still have to break through the encryption. Our secure server software encrypts all of your personal information including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read as the information travels over the Internet. The encryption process takes the characters you enter and converts them into bits of code that are securely transmitted over the Internet.

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- Our privacy policy

When you register with or purchase travel services through France Hotel Online, you must provide information identifying yourself to complete your transaction. We know that providing this information is an act of trust and we take it very seriously.

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- Security of reservation and credit card information

France Hotel Online has been certified as a secure server by thawte.

Thawte SSL Server Certificate enables SSL on France Hotel Online, giving us the ability to communicate securely with our web customers. SSL protects all communications, so we can take credit card numbers, protect sensitive personal information, and ensure that foreign hackers do not detect your passwords.

For more informations about Thawte certificate, please go to http://www.thawte.com.

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- I've just filled out a reservation form. How long does it take to get a confirmation for my reservation?

We aim to reply within 24 hours. Please keep in mind that we are operating from Paris. Time differences may cause delay. Our office hours are 9:30 - 8:30pm from Monday until Saturday, Paris / Central European Time GMT+1. If you reserve at these hours, you will usually get a quicker reply. If you are in a hurry you may send us a mail so your request will be answered with top priority. You can also fax us at (33) 1.45.27.80.50.

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- What if the hotel I picked is not available?

French hotels are often fully booked 3 months in advance. In order to increase your chances of getting a room for your dates, please select and rank 6 choices of hotels on your reservation form.

Following your ranking your reservation will be confirmed for the first hotel available for your dates.

If the hotels you selected are already full for your dates, we will suggest by e-mail the best alternatives, considering the budget and location matching your initial choice.

ADVICE : For those booking a hotel in Paris we suggest you pick up your first three choices of hotels in the same area and the remaining choices in other district.

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- I need some more information, I have questions to ask, what can I do ?

Do not hesitate to e-mail us, we will answer you personally within 24 hours. You can also call us on our service line at the following phone number : (33)1.45.27.21.21. Our office hours are 9:30 - 8:30pm from Monday until Saturday, Paris / Central European Time GMT+1.

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- Last minute and peak period reservation

If If you are reserving at the last minute i.e 2 weeks before departure or during a peak period we recommend you to select on your reservation form 6 choices of hotels presented in our "advice menu".

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- What time can I check-in, check-out? And what do I need to check-in?

You can check-in starting 12.00pm. For early check-in you will have to ask the hotel reception upon arrival. Please notify us in case of late check-in (after 6.00pm). The easiest way to check-in is to have a printed copy of your confirmation with you. If you do not though, don't worry simply give your name and confirm that you have been booked through us. You have to check out before 12.00 pm.

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- Room types: what are single, double, twin, triple and quadruple rooms?

Single rooms have one single bed and thus accommodate one person.
Double rooms have one large bed, big enough for a couple.
Twin rooms include two single beds -- for two people who don't want to share a bed.
Triple and quadruple rooms accommodate three and four people respectively. A triple is composed of either a large bed and one single or three single beds while quadruple rooms can have either two large beds or one large bed with two single beds.

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- Do I get a private bathroom and toilet?

Private bathroom and toilet are standard amenity even in a few 1-star hotel (hotel Delhy's).

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- Hotel prices: what should I expect?

For a standard double room you can expect to pay:

1 US $ = 6.90FRF
For a 1-star hotel -- up to FRF 300
For a 2-star hotel -- up to FRF 500
For a 3-star hotel -- up to FRF 900
For a 4-star hotel -- up to FRF 3000
Note, prices can be higher for rooms with a view and garden and hotels that are close to major tourist attractions. Hotels that are in less central areas (for example the 12th, 13th or 14th arrondissements) will cost less than those that are right in the middle of town. And because Paris' public transportation system is excellent, staying further out is not necessarily a problem.

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- Are the prices per person or for the room? What's included in the prices quoted?

All rates quoted are for the room. They include all taxes, except the moderate local taxes (FF 3 for a 1 star hotel, FF5 for a 2 star hotel, FF 6 for a 3 star hotel and FF7 for a 4 star hotel). Breakfast is extra and optional unless otherwise specified. Use of phone or minibar drinks are also extra.

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- Hotel category: how are the hotels rated?

The classification of hotels depends on the comfort and services offered according to norms fixed by the French government's Bureau of the Tourism Industry.
L**** (4-star/L) -- very high class, de luxe hotel.
**** (4-star) -- high class, comfortable hotel.
*** (3-star) -- very comfortable hotel.
** (2-star) -- comfortable hotel.
* (1-star) and without star -- simple hotel with basic comforts.

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- Minimum sizes for rooms

The French Board of Tourism grants star-ratings based on specific criteria, one of them is size. Listed below are the minimum sizes for rooms of each class. Keep in mind that these are the minima, so the rooms may indeed be larger-but they will most certainly not be smaller. NC (non-classed) -- this category has no minimum.
1-star
single 7 m2 - double 8 m2
2-star
single 8 m2 - double 9 m2
3-star
single 9 m2 - double 10 m2
4-star
single 10 m2 - double 11 m2

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- We are a family traveling with kids and pets. Will it be difficult to accommodate them?

If the child needs its own bed, you will be charged for an extra bed (prices vary according to the hotel). In some seasons, hotels will offer the supplementary bed for free. This is most frequent with three and four-star hotels. If you are traveling with pets let us know so that we can suggest appropriate options, because there are indeed hotels that accept pets.

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- How far ahead should I book my reservation?

As soon as you have chosen your travel dates, feel free to contact us to make your reservation. If you will be traveling to Paris in April, May, June, September, or October make your reservations as early as possible because these are very busy months. Also, please be aware that booking for special events such as New Year's Eve can also be very difficult, so again book well ahead of time.

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- What about hotel restaurants?

Hotel restaurants are not as common in Paris as they are in other places because the hotels are often refurbished townhouses that don't have enough room for a restaurant. You will always find several restaurants very close to your hotel, but if you insist on having a hotel with a restaurant we can try to find one for you, the hotels that do have restaurants are often three and four-star hotels.

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- What about parking accommodations?

Parking in Paris can be a difficult job. However, there are many underground parking lots that are private, sheltered and guarded and it shouldn't be too hard to find one near your hotel.

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- Are non-smoking rooms available?

Non-smoking rooms are not very common in Paris but we can always check with the hotels beforehand. More and more hotels are now setting aside rooms for non-smokers.

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- Is the hotel equipped with air-conditioning?

Only a small percentage of hotels in Paris are air-conditioned: hotel Louvre Marsollier Opera***,Notre Dame Sorbonne***..., but if you want an air-conditioned room, we will be happy to help you find one. However, please note that almost all the hotels that are equipped with air-conditioning are three and four-star hotels.

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- What about gay-friendly hotels?

As a rule, hotels are not prejudiced against any particular lifestyle. For the record, the most gay-friendly area of Paris is the Marais.

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- When are the busy Periods
Paris
Paris is a very popular tourist destination all year round. For this reason it is necessary to reserve at least two months in advance for the peak season if you want to be sure to get a room in the hotel of your choice.
Peak season months are : March; April; May; June; September and October.
Within these peak season months; certain periods are busier than others during which it is necessary to reserve three months or more in advance. The busiest periods coincide with the big exhibitions (e.g. : Boat Show; Motor Show; etc...) or with bank holiday weekends. (See below for dates)
29th December - 1st January
7th - 12th January
22nd - 27th January
1st - 10th March
9th - 13th April
1st - 8th May
20th - 26th May
29th May - 3rd June
3rd - 8th September
1st - 12th October
17th - 26th October
1st - 6th November
4th - 17th December
Rest of France
Hotels in the rest of France are often less busy than those in Paris.
Nevertheless; if you are coming for an exhibition or a festival; you risk finding yourself faced with � no vacancies � signs at every turn if you do not reserve at least three months in advance.
Rooms for the Cannes Film Festival or the Deauville Festival are often booked six months in advance !
The C�te d'Azur and the Atlantic Coast.
The Cote d'Azur and the Atlantic Coast are particularly busy during the summer season. The summer season starts as early as April in the Cote d'Azur and lasts until the end of October. The Atlantic Coast's summer season is slightly shorter; running from May to September. Reserving well in advance (at least three months) is advised; particularly if you have a certain hotel in mind or will be staying over a bank holiday weekend (Easter; Ascension Weekend; 1st and 8th May; etc..)
Should you experience any problem with your reservation; please contact us.

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